Town set for all the fun of the fair

Morpeth Fair 2013

As well as plenty of entertainment, a range of stalls and activities have once again been organised by the Morpeth and District Chamber of Trade for its flagship Fair Day event, which runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Among the attractions are bouncy castles, a fun run, karate demonstrations, chainsaw carving, a continental market in Oldgate and a fancy dress competition.

There will be music on the main stage from Ashington Colliery Brass Band, Morpeth Pipe Band, Prelude and Jason King and the Northumbrian Water Ellington Colliery Brass Band will be playing in Sanderson Arcade.

Keith Turner’s popular Fun Fair will be in Newmarket.

As Bridge Street, Oldgate, Newmarket and part of Newgate Street will be closed, traffic coming into Morpeth will need to turn right at Telford Bridge. However, the park and ride scheme from County Hall (this service starts at 9.30am) gives people the opportunity to arrive into the town centre on a vintage bus.

John Beynon, of the Chamber of Trade, said: “There’s a lot of things for people of all ages to enjoy during the day, such as interesting stalls, displays, games, rides and excellent entertainment.

“Unfortunately, like last year, there won’t be a parade because the flood defence works in High Stanners are still on-going, but there will be more craft stalls this year and stalls and activities further up Newgate Street to help compensate.

“We’ve had more good weather than bad for the fair over the last 20 years, so hopefully that trend will continue.”

Another event in Morpeth this weekend is Morpeth Antiquarian Society’s annual two-day local history exhibition in the Corn Exchange of the Town Hall to mark the building’s 300th anniversary.

Those coming along will find out more details about the hall, such as the history of the original 1714 building designed by Vanbrugh and the subsequent 1870 rebuild and the people and events connected with it – a range of fascinating true stories will be told through photos, documents and artefacts from the Society’s and other collections.

Featured will be such topics as the mayors, town clerks, civic events, civic treasures and the medieval bailiffs and the seven craft guilds that were largely responsible for the government of the Borough until a council system was introduced in 1835.

There will also be Morpeth Goosehill First School’s display on the town treasures, recently seen at the Morpeth Gathering, the history of the Northumberland Registrar Service and, on Sunday only, the Northumberland and Durham Family History Society display. The exhibition is being held on Saturday and Sunday from 9.30am.